The 21-year-old from Brisbane has amassed a whopping 81,000 followers on Instagram with her beautiful and exotic images.

Here are her best tips to take photos like a pro:

Don’t Mock a Pocket Rocket

While there's no denying a fancy DSLR camera with several different lenses will help you get an amazing shot, purchasing a large and expensive gear is not a necessity!

These days, even smartphones have a half-decent camera to suit a large range of needs - and its easy to lug around! If you want something of a higher quality, Nicola suggests a Sony NEX or Olympus EDM. They take great photos and are easy to carry around.

Look For a Unique Viewpoint

One of the hardest (and most irritating) obstacles to capturing that perfect holiday snap, is all the other tourists getting in your way! If you've ever been to a major tourist attraction - you will know what we're talking about! "If you want a picture of an iconic landmark, try looking for a lesser known viewpoint," Nicola suggests. "This will avoid you getting dozens of tourists in the shot."

Image: Supplied/Nicola Easterby

Image: Supplied/Nicola Easterby

Rise and Shine - It's Photo Time

Photos taken in the middle of the day often cause harsh shadows or high exposure. This isn't great, especially if you're taking photos of yourself, like many solo-travellers are doing today! Nicola suggests getting snap happy at sunrise or sunset. They don't call it the golden hour for nothing!

Image: Supplied/Nicola Easterby

Attention to Detail Pays

Little details can capture the essence of the place you're in. While it's easy to take photos of the big sights, try looking for the touches that add to the character of your destination, such as the colours in traditional cuisine, lesser-capture architectural features, or little gifts sold at the local market.

Image: Supplied/Nicola Easterby

Image: Supplied/Nicola Easterby

Don't Diss Editing

All photographers edit their images! Don't think it's cheating to enhance your photographs with a bit of modern technology. While Photoshop can be a bit technical, Nicola suggests apps like Snapsee, Afterlight and Diptic are a bit more beginner-friendly, and can be used to play around with the contrast and lighting on your photos.

Image: Supplied/Nicola Easterby

Practice Makes Perfect

Ah, that old line. But it is true! Figuring out the best angles isn't a natural talent. It takes time to develop your eye for a good photograph, and practicing will allow you to figure out what works and what doesn't. You may start with hundreds of photographs of one landmark, but eventually you will be able to see that winning image before you've even taken the picture.